Page 97 of The Billionaire's Baby

"Fine?" He tilts his head

"Fine." I nod.

He pulls back his hand and I reach over to open the door. That’s when I notice the band on my ring finger.

35

Arpad

Her gaze widens, "Wh…what’s this?"

"What does it look like?"

"A ring?" She holds up her fingers. "You placed a ring on my finger?"

"It’s been known to happen."

"But why?" She frowns at me. "Not everyone who’s married wears a ring."

"It’s more convincing this way."

She glances at my hand, "And what about your ring?"

"I don’t need one."

She firms her lips. "So as your wife, I am supposed to wear a ring, but as my husband, you don’t need to wear one?"

I scratch my jaw and pretend to think, "Sounds about right."

She stares at me. "Only you could take a gesture that could have meant so much, and turn it into something so…so…"

"Real?"

"So dominating," she snaps.

"That’s me, babe, and don’t forget it."

"Stop it," she snarls. "Why do you insist on being so offensive?"

I tilt my head. "This is me, being myself."

"You don’t say." She fingers the ring on her finger, "Don’t you think you’re taking this charade too far?"

"Not far enough." I get out of the car, walk around to open her door, but she’s already out and standing.

I hold out my hand, "Shall we?"

She brushes past me and I let her lead the way… This once. We head for the door as it swings open.

"Arpad." My father stands in the doorway. His full head of hair, is more flecked with grey than when I last saw it. His frame seems to be leaner than before, like he’s lost weight, or is that my imagination? He glances from me to Karina and his forehead furrows. "And you are…?"

"I am his…" she hesitates.

"This is Karina, my wife." I pull abreast with her, and wrap my arm around her shoulders.

"Ah." His gaze widens. "Wife?" He glances to me. "A little bit of advance notice would have been welcome."

I tilt my head.